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Results for “Molten materials”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Synergistic Effects of Molten Salt Corrosion and Proton Irradiation on Grain Boundary Strength in Ni-20Cr

Nickel-based alloys are leading contenders for use as structural materials in molten salt reactors. While there have been extensive studies on the impact of fluoride/chloride-based molten salt corrosion on the microstructural evolution of various nickel-based alloys, the effects of simultaneous molten salt corrosion and radiation on the mechanical integrity of grain boundaries (GBs) remain underexplored. In this study, we use a Ni-20Cr model alloy to investigate this issue, subjecting it to simultaneous molten fluoride salt corrosion and proton irradiation. We performed cross-sectional and chemically-sensitive electron microscopy characterization of the microstructures of these materials, identifying the characteristic corrosion-induced microstructure and local chemical heterogeneity near GBs. After developing a sample preparation method for reliable characterization of GB strength, we assess the mechanical degradation of GBs using in situ push-to-pull micro tensile tests. Our findings reveal that voids induced by corrosion are the primary influence on the failure mode of GBs, regardless of whether proton irradiation is present. For materials that exhibit ductile fracture, those subjected to simultaneous corrosion and radiation exhibit lower yield strengths than those exposed to corrosion alone, which may be linked to the previously observed phenomenon of proton irradiation-decelerated intergranular corrosion in molten salt.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Electromagnetic print nozzle for direct-write additive manufacturing with resistive renditions

A method and apparatus for additive manufacturing that includes a material guide for directing a supply of working material. An advancement mechanism comprising one or more pistons, pushers, plungers and/or pressure regulation systems are positioned behind at least a portion of the supply of working material for advancing the working material forward. The working material is heated using an electro-magnetic heating element and the melted or molten working material is deposited from a tip positioned at an end of the material guide.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Long-Term Stability of Mullite and Magnesia-encased Ag|Ag + Reference Electrodes in Molten MgCl 2 -KCl-NaCl

In this study, the stability of Ag|Ag + molten chloride reference electrodes was studied using mullite and magnesia tubes as reference electrode membrane materials in molten MgCl 2 -KCl-NaCl for continuous immersion up to 31 d. Two electrochemical methods were used to characterize the long-term performance of the reference electrodes at 500 °C in an inert atmosphere using a Mg rod as the working electrode: open circuit potential (OCP) and onset of Mg(II) reduction as measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV). There was only a 3% difference between the average OCP measured versus the mullite and MgO reference electrodes. Potential drift was higher for mullite (−1.34 mV d −1 ) than MgO (0.22 mV d −1 ). But both drift rates were very low compared to the OCP data standard deviation, indicating that no significant drift was measured for us to 31 d.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Corrosion characteristics of monolithic SiC materials in beryllium-bearing molten fluoride salt

In this work, chemical vapor deposited SiC single crystal and polycrystals were exposed to a static beryllium-bearing molten fluoride salt, 2LiF–BeF 2 for 500 and 1000 h at 750 °C. Overall, the single crystal and polycrystalline SiC materials experienced slight weight loss and nominal surface etching regardless of the material type. Localized pitting and nonuniform Si removal from surface regions were associated with trace metal impurities and oxygen. Cross-sectional observation revealed minimal subsurface changes in the microstructure. The corrosion damage processes were similar to those reported for molten LiF–KF–NaF salt with trace impurities, indicating that the impurities significantly affect SiC corrosion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1996

Containerless Liquid-Phase Processing of Ceramic Materials

The present project builds on the results of research supported under a previous NASA grant to investigate containerless liquid-phase processing of molten ceramic materials. The research used an aero-acoustic levitator in combination with cw CO2 laser beam heating to achieve containerless melting, superheating, undercooling, and solidification of poorly-conducting solids and liquids. Experiments were performed on aluminum oxide, binary aluminum oxide-silicon dioxide materials, and oxide superconductors.

Weber, J. K. Richard↗
DOE OSTI2020

Method for identification of redox control parameters for corrosion mitigation in molten fluoride salts

Structural material corrosion is a significant concern for the development of molten salt-cooled reactors (MSR) and redox control was proposed to mitigate the corrosion. This study presents an efficient approach to identify the partial pressure of F 2 gas for fluorine driven corrosion, the concentration ratios of UF 4 /UF 3 and ZrF 4 /ZrF 2 , and the partial pressure ratio of HF/H 2 needed to limit metal corrosion and its subsequent dissolution in molten fluoride salts. The identification procedure is made by simply using auxiliary axes in Ellingham diagrams. This approach greatly simplifies the optimization of redox control methods in studying the material corrosion in molten salts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ceramic susceptor for induction bonding of metals, ceramics, and plastics

A thin (.005) flexible ceramic susceptor (carbon) was discovered. It was developed to join ceramics, plastics, metals, and combinations of these materials using a unique induction heating process. Bonding times for laboratory specimens comparing state of the art technology to induction bonding were cut by a factor of 10 to 100 times. This novel type of carbon susceptor allows for applying heat directly and only to the bondline without heating the entire structure, supports, and fixtures of a bonding assembly. The ceramic (carbon film) susceptor produces molten adhesive or matrix material at the bond interface. This molten material flows through the perforated susceptor producing a fusion between the two parts to be joined, which in many instances has proven to be stronger than the parent material. Bonding can be accomplished in 2 minutes on areas submitted to the inductive heating. Because a carbon susceptor is used in bonding carbon fiber reinforced plastics and ceramics, there is no radar signature or return making it an ideal process for joining advanced aerospace composite structures.

Fox, Robert L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Internally insulated thermal storage system development program

A cost effective thermal storage system for a solar central receiver power system using molten salt stored in internally insulated carbon steel tanks is described. Factors discussed include: testing of internal insulation materials in molten salt; preliminary design of storage tanks, including insulation and liner installation; optimization of the storage configuration; and definition of a subsystem research experiment to demonstrate the system. A thermal analytical model and analysis of a thermocline tank was performed. Data from a present thermocline test tank was compared to gain confidence in the analytical approach. A computer analysis of the various storage system parameters (insulation thickness, number of tanks, tank geometry, etc.,) showed that (1) the most cost-effective configuration was a small number of large cylindrical tanks, and (2) the optimum is set by the mechanical constraints of the system, such as soil bearing strength and tank hoop stress, not by the economics.

Scott, O. L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

C440 Overview presentation

This power point is for general external audience use and presentation for the Advanced Technologies of Molten Salts department.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1987

Corrosion of SiC by Molten Salt

Advanced ceramic materials considered for wide range of applications as in gas turbine engines and heat exchangers. In such applications, materials may be in corrosive environments that include molten salts. Very corrosive to alloys. In order to determine extent of problem for ceramic materials, corrosion of SiC by molten salts studied in both jet fuel burners and laboratory furnaces. Surface of silicon carbide corroded by exposure to flame seeded with 4 parts per million of sodium. Strength of silicon carbide decreased by corrosion in flame and tube-furnace tests.

Jacobson, Nathan S.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Molten Silicate Reactivity with Environmental Barrier Coating Materials for Gas Turbine Engine Applications

Rare earth (RE) disilicates are utilized in environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) to protect SiC-based ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) from destructive reactions with water vapor and other combustion species. These coating materials, however, degrade when exposed to molten silicate deposits primarily composed of calcium-magnesium aluminosilicates (CMAS). Coating materials are exposed to CMAS by engine ingestion of dust particulates from terrestrial sources during operation. Due to continual increases in engine operating temperature, it is important to understand the high temperature thermochemical mechanisms that drive corrosion of these materials. This work focuses on characterizing reaction products between disilicates and CMAS and optimizing coating chemistries to mitigate damage.

Stokes, Jamesa L.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Brazing methods using porous interlayers and related articles

The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

Nicholas, Jason Dale↗
DOE OSTI2023

Brazing methods using porous interlayers and related articles

The disclosure relates to a brazing method for joining substrates, in particular where one of the substrates is difficult to wet with molten braze material. The method includes formation of a porous metal layer on a first substrate to assist wetting of the first substrate with a molten braze metal, which in turn permits joining of the first substrate with a second substrate via a braze metal later in an assembled brazed joint. Ceramic substrates can be particularly difficult to wet with molten braze metals, and the disclosed method can be used to join a ceramic substrate to another substrate. The brazed joint can be incorporated into a solid-oxide fuel cell, for example as a stack component thereof, in particular when the first substrate is a ceramic substrate and the joined substrate is a metallic substrate.

Nicholas, Jason Dale↗
DOE OSTI2023

Molten Salt Sampling Techniques and Analytical Approaches

Recent global interest in pyroprocessing and molten salt reactors has brought salt sampling methods and techniques back to the forefront of nuclear safeguards concerns. Issues with uranium supplies have also encouraged various countries to pursue advanced nuclear fuel cycles. Tracking nuclear material in molten salt has proven to be a challenge and updating molten salt sampling will greatly help in this endeavor. Molten salt is problematic to sample due to salt stratification, lack of homogeneity, solids, and difficulty with hot cell adaptations. Various salt sampling techniques have been used since before the 1960s including surface, spoon/spatula, and bar solidification. Since then, new types of sampling techniques have been developed to improve sampling results. These include rod/dip, pipet, suction, filtered sampling along with devices such as the Valve Core Sampler and the Multi-Level Sampler. These different approaches are being analyzed and improved upon along with developing requirements for an improved salt sampling device. Work continues to develop salt samplers that are more robust, easier to segment, collect at a specific depth, can work with filters, and can collect fines. Sampling parameters are also being narrowed in terms of stirring, settling time, filtration, depth, etc. In the future, we hope to address deficiencies for process control and nuclear material accountancy control by determining the best way to collect samples that minimizes contaminants and is representative. A compilation of salt sampling approaches, analyses techniques, and an evaluation of findings will be presented.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗